Three Important Questions to Ask When on the Hunt for a Personal Trainer

March 11, 20193 min read

We all want to stay in shape. From a 15-year-old high school boy just growing into his body to a 45-year-old mother of four trying to turn back the clock, everyone would love to take care of their bodies. Unfortunately, it is easier said than done.Enter the personal trainer. The trainer is there to guide you towards your fitness goals. He or she is the one with the head full of exercise and nutritional knowledge ready to put it into work in order to transform your body into the one you've been yearning for.There is a little bit of homework to do, however. It is not necessarily about finding the best personal trainer, but the right one as well. A trainer who does not match up with you in some way can not only derail your workout regimen but your overall resolve to exercise at all. Here are a few questions you can ask in order to avoid an issue like that.

What are your credentials?

You're going to want to know if your trainer actually knows what he or she is talking about when creating a plan for you. You cannot afford them telling you not to wear an ankle brace or knee support when you should be wearing one, to strengthen your arms when you should be strengthening your core or to stretch your pulled hamstring when you should be resting it.You should know about his or her certifications and degrees before agreeing to work together. You should also know what kinds of people he or she has had experience training in the past, as you want them to have some experience with a gym-goer of your type. Why would you train with someone who specializes in football players when you are a golfer? Why would you sign up with a trainer who handles bodybuilders when you are a non-athlete just trying to shed a few pounds? Though trainers have general knowledge that applies to all types of people, it is best to find someone whose specialty falls in line with your fitness.

Can you create a diet plan for me?

A good trainer is involved with your health not only in the gym but throughout your daily life. That means that he or she is monitoring what you eat and drink, as well as creating a dietary plan for you to follow.If you really want to achieve the body of your dreams, it takes much more than exercise. Proper nutrition plays an enormous role, making the trainer's job that much more important. Ask him or her if they will be making you a diet plan, as this will complete the roadmap to your beach bod. Additionally, make sure they will be actually keeping tabs on you following the plan. The dos and don'ts are the easy part. A good trainer makes sure you are following his or her structure, usually by asking you to document your daily meals.

What is your availability?

Regardless of how perfect your trainer appears to be, it is worthless unless your schedules are compatible with each other. You both have other things to do, other people to see and other places to go. Make sure your personal trainer can make enough time for you to come in and do what you have to do in the gym, as well as flexible enough to adjust should something come up.A good trainer-trainee relationship is a steady one. It is one in which you work with each other at similar times and on similar days every single week. Without availability that matches up with yours, there is little to no chance you will be able to get your body to where you want it to be.

It's All About Compatibility

There are plenty of excellent trainers out there. However, not all of them are truly right for you and your personal fitness goals. These three key questions can help to weed out the ones who may be qualified but aren't a good match for a variety of reasons. If all of his or her answers check out, then congratulations! You have just found the personal trainer who can take you to where you want to be physically. Ask away, and enjoy the ride to your new body!